April 17 to 21 found the UGAT Team back in Mirador Jesuit Villa Baguio City for another batch of the Family Interventions for School Guidance Counselors and Class Moderators Seminar-Workshop. The group is significantly less in number this year but nevertheless still delivered in all areas: fun, diversity and learning from one another! PROOF: Socials lasted for six hours---that's a record.
After that the team went to Tagudin, Ilocos Sur to give a one-day Basic Counseling Skills seminar for the couple leaders of the church. Joining the team are the Jesuit brothers J.R. and Joel Liwanag. The group was recieved by Fr. Albert Rabe and ICM Sister Pining.
Then its off to Abra. Supposedly, the team was there to give a seminar to children and spouses of overseas workers. But the summer scheduleplus the difficulty of transportation in the "dead-end" (but nevertheless not wanting in hidden delights) province of Abra made attending the seminar rather difficult.
But if participants can't come to the seminar, then the seminar will go to the participants. Under the guidance of the powerhouse Sr. Tata, the group went to the Abra Community Communications Center and recorded a 6-day 30 minute each discussion on OFW topics for DWPA. The six topics were : Dapat bang Mangibang-bansa?, Pagmamahal ba ang Pag-alis?, Sino ang mas nahihirapan, ang umalis o ang naiwan?, Hanggang Saan, Hanggang Kailan?, Epektibong Panunumbalik at Isang Paglalagom. The show was hosted by Communications major Joel Liwanag, S.J. Many thanks to Rina, our anak ng OFW guest and "Marissa."
TRIVIA:
* The group in Baguio was served "pinikpikan", the cruelly murdered, "arsonized" chicken that the natives of the Cordilleras take as a symbol of welcome.
*We also ate a cleverly disguised asuzena in Tagudin.
*We gorged ourselves in mangoes.
*We learned about organic farming in Galacia Farms, Abra (namely raising drunk Israelite poultry and rehabilitating chemically addicted land)
*We swam in the irrigation catch basin!
*and all these with enough time to touch -base with Bayaning Pilipino Awardees in Abra.
May 1 to 6 meant its off to the Capucchin Renewal Center in Tagaytay for the six day "Basic Counseling for the Poor Seminar." It was also a smaller group, 11 people, but as with most groups the strength is not in the number but in its diversity (as well as its willingness to cross-dress).
Another Family Interventions Seminar for Schools was given last May 10-12 at the St. Mary's Academy of Meycauyan Bulacan. The team was joined by Mary Ann Rafols of FIS- Baguio.
